Power Connection (Authentic) strolled home in the Manzano Stakes at Albuquerque on Saturday evening and in the process hand-delivered the first stakes winner to his freshman sire (by Into Mischief). The dark bay was sent by his New Mexico-based trainer Todd Fincher to Southern California where she was the runner-up in her debut at Los Alamitos June 30. At Del Mar, the filly was a well-beaten third Aug. 10 and finished a distant fourth Aug. 25. Shipping back to the capitol of her home state and off as the 3-2 second choice here, Power Connection chased a longshot speed horse up the backstretch. Given her cue around the far turn, the juvenile was challenged by her stablemate and favorite West of Me (West Coast). Digging deep in the final furlong, Power Connection put away her rival and collected the black-type. The winner has a full-brother who was foaled Apr. 11. A half-sister to MGSP Jet West (Western Fame), Lady Leftennant was bred to Tacitus for 2025. Authentic's first crop includes 160 foals of racing age.
MANZANO S., $60,000, Albuquerque, 10-12, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.31, ft.
1–POWER CONNECTION, 120, f, 2, Authentic–Lady Leftennant, by Officer. ($200,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Gary Randall Andrews, James Cone, James, Brad E. King and Robert L. Lewis; B-Scott Pierce (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher; J-Irwin J. Rosendo. $35,400. Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-1, $57,100. *1/2 to Lady Ivanka (Tiz Wonderful), GISW, $259,800.
2–West of Me, 119, c, 2, West Coast–Best of Me, by Super Saver. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-HX3 Incorporated; B-Todd & Shawn Hansen (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher. $12,000.
3–Karaoke Hero, 118, g, 2, Stay Thirsty–No Tunes, by Songandaprayer. ($2,500 2yo '24 CTBAJA). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Tyson Esquibel; B-Terry C. Lovinger (CA); T-Timothy Mark Gleason. $6,000.
Margins: 2, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.50, 1.30, 24.20.
Also Ran: Roadswitcher, Williams Empire, My Vino, Toni the Grrreat, Street Colors.
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